The boss of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has hit back at Paul Stanley, describing the KISS frontman as a “borderline racist.”
CEO Joel Peresman had come under fire from Stanley over the handling of his band’s induction at this year’s ceremony. He and bandmate Gene Simmons wanted the current lineup to play at last month’s gala night while organizers only wanted the original members to perform. The argument ended in a stalemate, with the band not performing at the ceremony.
Stanley – who took a pot shot at judges from their own stage – this week reignited the argument by calling the Rock Hall “elitist” and claiming it lacked credibility.
Now Peresman has broken his silence, hailing Simmons’ acceptance speech, but slamming his bandmate. He tells Radio.com, “It was a lovely speech; it was actually kind of classy – as opposed to Paul’s. He’s been almost borderline racist. Not in that speech, but in other interviews talking about how hip-hop artists shouldn’t be inducted because they don’t play instruments. It’s like, ‘what are you, kidding?’
And he talks about the nominating committee, and how those guys don’t buy records. Those guys buy records. They’re fucking fans. Those guys are writers and critics and musicians. Those are the people who buy records and got into the business because they love music.”
But Peresman may have gotten his facts wrong. In a recent interview it was Simmons, not Stanley, who slated hip-hop. The bassist said in March: “A few people decide what’s in and what’s not and the masses just scratch their heads. You’ve got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Run DMC in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You’re killing me! That doesn’t mean those aren’t good artists. But they don’t play guitar. They sample and they talk – not even sing.”
Stanley made his own race-hate allegations when he referred to former bandmates Ace Frehly and Peter Criss as people who resented being “unfairly manipulated by money-grubbing Jews.” In March he said he stood by his allegations.
At the ceremony in Brooklyn on April 10, KISS were inducted alongside Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, The E Street Band and others.
source: metalhammer.teamrock.com
85 Responses
That dude is reaching for anything he can to recover from Paul’s burn. The rap and hip hop acts don’t deserve to be in the Hall because they are not Rock and Roll and it is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Hmm..pauls a racist? peresman may want to listen to some rap lyrics sometime…what a bunch of garbage rap has become…I never had a reason to go to the hof until kiss got in…I still may give them the middle finger as I walk in…btw, anyone know how much they r soaking the public for a tix?
Who is this guy anyways? What exactly has he done to justify being the head of the RROF? What the hell does he know about Rock & Roll?
Obviously nothing.
Has been in the music industry many years, was an agent, worked for MSG.
Hey Eddie, YOU should be in charge of the R&R HOF! Then real “musicians & artists” like deep purple & others would have been in a LONG time ago, and NOT non-musicians like rappers!
Thanks Doug, but all I can do is be vocal about who should be in for now
Hey MR. Peresman, people try to take my soul away, but I don’t hear the RAP that they all say. Is that “offensive” too MR. Peresman? Hey Joel, do you want to know what’s really “offensive”? Especially to music fans? RUN DMC is in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame & Deep Purple isn’t, NOW THAT’S OFFENSIVE!!
I have no interest in this so called Hall Of Fame. Its a music hall of fame and nothing else. Rock N Roll HOF should only consist of Rock acts.
I normally can’t stand Paul but in this case the hall of shame is showing it’s true shameful colors!! Rock&roll is not hip hop!! That’s like coming out with the hall of hip hop and inducting motor head in! Want to rant but the hall of shame just is not worth it!